Le Tour de France

[Stat Brother]

Nice use of the word ENGLISHMAN, as Robert Miller (scot) wouldn't have been seen dead in that company, he'd have been too far up the road.

 

[Pantani]

Agree Gwylan , this is by far the best Tour in years,on so many levels.Apart from the headlines that Cavendish is grabbing, just seeing an ENGLISHMAN climb with a select group of elite climbers is staggering.Someone jog my memory if this has been seen before? Wiggins is clearly as excited by this as we are because he knows that you can win as many Olympic golds as you like but the very pinnacle of international cycling is being on tv for 3 hrs at a time in the lead group of a mountain stage in the Tour de France.The Alps will be essential viewing.Millar's hanging on too!

Have to disagree on this being the best tour for years. They have totally neutered most of the mountain stages by having such long run ins after the major climbs. This is why Wiggins is still up there. He is riding extremely well but if they had finished on top of the Tourmalet rather than 70km later he would have been blown away. The whole thing is just a set up for the time trial on Ventoux, which will be great to watch, but this has led to two weeks of almost pointless racing. So in conclusion as always the Giro was better because the organisers try to destroy the riders by sending them up every mountain they can find.

 

[Bozza]

Cavendish wins. Again. Yawn.

 

[Stat Brother]

Have to disagree on this being the best tour for years. They have totally neutered most of the mountain stages by having such long run ins after the major climbs. This is why Wiggins is still up there. He is riding extremely well but if they had finished on top of the Tourmalet rather than 70km later he would have been blown away. The whole thing is just a set up for the time trial on Ventoux, which will be great to watch, but this has led to two weeks of almost pointless racing. So in conclusion as always the Giro was better because the organisers try to destroy the riders by sending them up every mountain they can find.

We are saying the same.
Contador's point proving nicely whetted my appetite. Then nothing, very disappointing, I'm a bit annoyed with myself for not seeing this stalemate coming.

 

[Pantani]

We are saying the same.
Contador's point proving nicely whetted my appetite. Then nothing, very disappointing, I'm a bit annoyed with myself for not seeing this stalemate coming.

It really is a shame that what should have been a fantastic Tour has been ruined by a rubbish course. Unfortunately I predicted this as soon as I saw the route but it gives me no satisfaction to be proved correct. Also in my previous post I forgot to say what is effectively a time trial up Ventoux. As the individual TT is the day before. Any way at least Armstrong is not winning that would ruin the whole thing for me. Hopefully Sastre, Evans or Schleck (A) will do something at Verbiers to stop the Astana procession and add a bit of spice to the last week.

 

[Stat Brother]

The fact that someone HAS to do something is the only exciting thing left. (Other than GB interest)
Even though whatever it is, will be too little too late, to stop Contador's procession to Paris.

 

[Stat Brother]

Re the route.
I do come at Le Tour from 25 (ish) years of watching. So compared to prolog - 8 days of flat- 3 mountains - 4 flat - 4 mountains - 1 flat, I was really looking forward to Monaco, Pyrenees, flat, Alps, Paris.

But the fact that they have been through an entire mountain range and PL hasn't exploded, screaming, he's cracked he's cracked, is somewhat disappointing.

 

[1066familyman]

Re the route.
I do come at Le Tour from 25 (ish) years of watching. So compared to prolog - 8 days of flat- 3 mountains - 4 flat - 4 mountains - 1 flat, I was really looking forward to Monaco, Pyrenees, flat, Alps, Paris.

But the fact that they have been through an entire mountain range and PL hasn't exploded, screaming, he's cracked he's cracked, is somewhat disappointing.

 

[Pantani]

Re the route.
I do come at Le Tour from 25 (ish) years of watching. So compared to prolog - 8 days of flat- 3 mountains - 4 flat - 4 mountains - 1 flat, I was really looking forward to Monaco, Pyrenees, flat, Alps, Paris.

But the fact that they have been through an entire mountain range and PL hasn't exploded, screaming, he's cracked he's cracked, is somewhat disappointing.

Excellent post truly made me smile. PL is an absolute broadcasting legend. Unfortunately I am stuck with Eurosport as you cannot get ITV red button coverage on freeview, yet again ITV get it wrong.

Back to the route. The order or how prescribed it is, has never really been the issue for me. I would be happiest if every mountain stage actually finished at the top of a mountain resulting in attacks that actually meant something. But from my avatar you can probably tell that I have a soft spot for climbers.

 

[Pantani]

Today's the day something has to happen. If Satre, Evans, Schleck and anyone who isn't Astana wants too win they have to attack. Really looking forward to this. They best not disappoint again.

 

[skipper734]

Bradley Wiggens 3rd overall behind Lance Armstrong and Alberto Contrador.

 

[adrian29uk]

Cavendish or Wiggins if he gets on the podium in Paris for the BBC Sports personality of year

 

[Stat Brother]

Yeah great ride by Brad.
Those that doubted him should hang their heads in shame

Irrespective as to whether he's not 'raced' for the 1st 2 weeks, I guess you still have to put up when the time comes, which he did.
In the process cementing GC, team leadership, and who knows what. (He says switching sides quicker than your average Italian).

 

[champion7]

Am i the only one that thinks Contador broke Armstrongs challenge (for the overall winner ) with that impressive break today.

 

[Pantani]

Happy to be proved wrong too. That was truly an immense ride. With a time trial to come he could even get second overall if he continues to climb like that.

 

[chimneys]

Cavendish or Wiggins if he gets on the podium in Paris for the BBC Sports personality of year

Cavendish?! That miserable zero personality glory boy who has to do about 20m work off the back of his fantastic team's effort every few days! No chance.

Wiggins all the way for me! A true cycling hero in the making.

 

[1066familyman]

Just one thing to say after todays stage.......

BRADLEY WIGGINS !?

That is all.











For now

 

[Brixtaan]

Wiggins A true cycling hero in the making.

In the making Have you watched any Olympics recently?
This weeks performances simply elevate him to all-time legend status.Sports Personality and knighthood are a couple of the smaller prizes he should collect later.

At least Wiggins agrees with Pantani about it being easier for him this year because of the lack of mountain finishes.But if its so easy then where were all the specialists yesterday? Sports personality of the decade

 

[Tyrone Biggums]

Cavendish stripped of points.

I love cycling but sometimes it just feels like there's some anti-anglo setiment going on at times.

 

[k2bluesky]

Can't see anyone toppling Contador who can just hang on to Armstrong/Wiggins till Paris to win, unless of course Armstrong or Wiggins has enough to put in a blinding TT at Annecy on Thursday (and what a beautiful setting that is !!)
Wiggins, with a 35 seconds gap to 4th place looks good for a fantastic 3rd in Paris especially as TT is his speciality but he needs to keep something for the Ventoux on Saturday. Interesting last week.